Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 18 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Round Rock
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $201/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,586)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Median income trails Round Rock by $27,862/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.8%)
Round Rock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($337,500 vs $528,600)
63% less violent crime than Bellingham
Households earn $27,862 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Round Rock
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Round Rock
Median Income
$27,862
$91,888 vs $64,026/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
63% lower
130.7 vs 350.0 per 100k
Round Rock
Median Home Value
$191k less
$337,500 vs $528,600
Round Rock
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.8% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
20.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $337,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 120,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 18 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 5 and Round Rock wins 18. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Bellingham to Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $337,500 median home), income ($64,026 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Round Rock, TX are about 1,809 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.